Knockdown desk and table

ABSTRACT

A desk or table formed of heavy paper board or the like, capable of being readily assembled or dismantled without the use of tools, and including parts which interlock with one another for maintaining the desk or table assembled and which may be readily disconnected for detaching the desk or table top from its supporting uprights. Supporting uprights of different cross sectional size can be utilized depending upon whether or not the furniture item is to be provided with a sliding drawer. The desk or table top may be dismantled to assume a flat position and the uprights may be collapsed for storage or transportation of the furniture item.

States Patent 11 1 KNOCKDOWN DESK AND TABLE [76] Inventor: Douglass M.Stegner, 1816 Circle Rd., Ruxton, Md. 21204 [22] Filed: June 20, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 371,886

[52] US. Cl 312/195, 5/D1G. 1, 108/157, 211/135, 248/174, 297/440,312/259 [51] Int. Cl. A47b 41/00, A47b 3/06 [58] Field 01' Search312/195, 258, 259; 297/440, 442; 211/135, 149; 248/174;108/153,157,159;5/D1G.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,152,609 3/1939 Stevensonet a1 211/135 X 2,801,145 7/1957 Jones 312/259 2,895,541 7/1959 Spivak248/174 3,202,335 8/1965 Budd 5/DIG. 1 3,212,464 10/1965 Steuer 108/1593,250,570 5/1966 Smith et a1 297/442 3,331,634 7/1967 Harrison, Jr.297/442 Mar. 18, 1975 3,705,557 12/1972 Budington 108/157 X 3,729,2444/1973 Butler 312/195 3,807,823 4/1974 Rouse 312/195 [57] ABSTRACT Adesk or table formed of heavy paper board or the like, capable of beingreadily assembled or dismantled without the use of tools, and includingparts which interlock with one another for maintaining the desk or tableassembled and which may be readily disconnected for detaching the deskor table top from its supporting uprights. Supporting uprights ofdifferent cross sectional size can be utilized depending upon whether ornot the furniture item is to be provided with a sliding drawer. The deskor table top may be dismantled to assume a flat position and theuprights may be collapsed for storage or transportation of the furnitureitem.

8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 1 KNOCKD'OWN DESK AND TABLE SUMMARY It is aprimary object of the present invention to provide a furniture item suchas a desk or table formed of a heavy paper stock which may be readilyassembled from a blank form without the use of tools or fastenings,including interlocking means for securing the desk or table top to itssupporting uprights.

Another object of the invention is to provide a desk or table which isextremely light in weight and yet very durable and stable and capable ofsupporting a substantial load, including an electric typewriter whichmay operate while resting thereon with only very slight vi bration ofthe desk.

A further object of the invention is to provide a desk or table typefurniture item the top of which may be provided with different types ofreinforcements depending upon the load to be supported.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a table or desktype furniture item the supporting posts or uprights for the topof whichmay vary in size depending upon the load to be supported thereby andwhether or not the item is to include a sliding drawer or drawers.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an item which may bemanufactured from one width of paper stock.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, andwherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of oneembodiment of the invention in the form of a desk having a slidingdrawer;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the desk of FIG. 1partially dismantled with the sliding drawer omitted;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing one part of the desk top in blank form andextended;

FIG. 4 is a similar view of the other part of the desk to FIG. 5 is anenlarged cross sectional view showing each of the two desk top sectionsassembled and in a position to be joined together;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through an endportion of the table top and illustrating the interlocking of one of thesupporting uprights thereto; 1

FIG. 7 is a plan view looking toward the inner side of the extendedblank of one of the supporting uprights or posts; I

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the drawer supporting insert for usewith the blank of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the insert of FIG. 8 in blank form;

FIG. l0is a plan view in blank form of the other supporting upright ofFIG. 2 and looking toward the inner side thereof;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a table having a slightlydifferent table top from that disclosed in FIG. 2, and utilizing two ofthe supporting uprights made from blanks of the type as shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 2. illustrating the parts of thefurniture item of FIG. 11, and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the table top of FIGS.11 and 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more specifically tothe drawings, and first with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, a furnitureitem 15, such as a desk or table, is composed of a desk or table top 16and two supporting uprights or posts 17 and 18. The parts 16, 17 and 18are formed of heavy paper board or similar paper stock, which may beimpregnated or coated with a fire resisting material, and which mayinclude a color coating on all the exterior or exposed surfaces thereof.

The top 16 is composed of two blanks 19 and 20, as seen in FIGS. 3 and4, respectively. The blank 19 includes a rectangular central portion 21constituting the top surface of the desk 15, turned down portions 22 and23 constituting the sides and ends of the desk top, and two inturnedcorner tabs 24 and 25 at each corner of the desk top 21. The blank 19includes corresponding portions 26 which are disposed beyond theportions 22. As seen in FIG. 5, after the sides 22 are turned downwardlyrelative to the desk top 21, the portions 26 are turned inwardly at aright angle to the portions 22 and parallel to the portion 21. Theportions 27 which are disposed outwardly of the portions 26 are thenturned upwardly, and the side edge portions 28 which are disposed beyondthe portions 27, are then turned outwardly to assume positions parallelto the portions 26 and abutting the side edge portions ofthe undersideof the top portion 21. The bottom portions 26 are provided with threetransverse slots 29 near each end thereof which extend outwardly fromthe inner wall 27 part way toward the outer wall 22, as seen in FIGS. 2and 5.

The blank 19, FIG. 3, also includes two end flaps 30 disposed beyond theend walls 23 and four tongues pro jecting from each end flap 30including two wide intermediate tongues 31 disposed between narrow endtongues 32.

Theblank 20, FIG. 4, constitutes an insert for the main body of thetable top 16, formed from the blank 19, as previously described. Theblank 20 includes an elongated rectangular central portion 33 of alength corresponding to the length of the table top 21 and of a widthcorresponding to the space between the walls 27 of the assembled section19, as seen in FIG. 5. Narrow strips 34 of lengths corresponding to thelength of the portion 33 are turned downwardly from the side edges ofportion 33 to form walls 34. Corresponding portions 35, between whichthe wall portions 34 are disposed, are turned inwardly from said wallportions 34 to provide bottom portions which are disposed beneath,spaced from and substantially parallel to the top portion 33. The bottomportions 35 are each ofa length less than the length of the portions 33and 34 and are each provided with a pair of spaced transverselyextending slots 36 near each end thereof. The bottom portions 35 aredisposed between walls 37 and 38 which extend upwardly therefrom andwhich are normally disposed in abutting engagement with one an other.The wall 37 has struck out tongues 39 which engage through slots 40 ofthe wall 38 for interlocking the walls 37 and 38 to one another, as seenin FIG. 5, with the bottom walls 35 disposed substantially coplanar. Theblank 20 includes corresponding wall portions 41 which straddle the wallportions 37 and 38 and which are turned outwardly and disposed inabutting engagement with the underside of top portion 33, FIG. 5. Sideedge portions 42 of the blank are turned downwardly from the outer sideedges of the portions 41 and abut the inner sides of the side walls 34,and have bottom edges abutting the bottoms 35. The portions 37, 41 and42 are ofthe same length as the portions 33 and 34.

It will be apparent that the assembled insert, formed from the blank 20,as seen in FIG. 5, will fit between the walls 27, with the'bottomportions 35 disposed coplanar with the bottom portions 26. Furthermore,the insert is of a length to extend from end-to-end of the wall 21, andthe slots 36 are disposed to align with the two innermost slots 29 ateach end of the bottom portions 26. The end flaps 30 are then foldedinwardly, FIG. 2, and the tongues 31 and 32 are folded upwardly with thetongues 32 inserted upwardly through the other remote slots 29 andthetongues 31 engaging in the spaces between the walls 37 and 42, and 38and 42 and against the ends of the bottom portions 35. The notches 43,between the tongues 31 and 32, straddle the walls 34 and 42, and thenotches 44, between the tongues 31 of each flap 30, straddle the walls37 and 38, to complete the assembly of the desktop 16.

The upright support or post 17 is formed from a blank 45, as seenin'FIG. 7, which is folded into rectangular form, as seen in FIG. 2, toprovide a front wall 46, side walls 47 and 48, a rear wall 49, and aflap 50 forming an extension of the rear wall 49. The flap 50 is turnedin and secured by staples 51 against the inner side of the wall 48.Walls 46 and 49 have extensions forming top flaps 52 and 53,respectively, which are turned inwardly and disposed substantiallycoplanar. The upper edges of the walls 47 and 48 are provided withupwardly extending end tongues 54. The wall 48 has two intermediatetongues 55 which are longer than the tongues 54 and spaced therefrom andfrom one another to provide notches 56. The wall 47 has intermediatetongues 57 of the same length as the tongues 55 and which are providedwith outturned extensions or flaps 58 at their upper edges. The tongues57 are spaced from one another and from the tongues 54 to provideadditional notches 59, the intermediate one of which extends between theflaps 58.

The tongues 54 of the wall 48 engage upwardly through the innermostslots 29 at one end of the desk top 16, and the tongues 55 engagethrough the slots 36 which align therewith. The end notches 56 straddlethe walls 34 and 42 and the intermediate notch 56 straddles the walls 37and 38. The tongues 54 of the wall 47 engage the outermost slots 29 atthe same end of the desk top 16, and the tongues 57 extend into thespaces between the walls 37 and 42 and 38 and 42 and abut againstcorresponding ends of the bottom walls 35. The outturned flanges 58 abutthe wall portions 41, and the end notches 59 straddle the walls 34 and42 while the intermediate notch 59 straddles the walls 37 and 38. Afterthe upright or post 17 has thus been applied to the top 16, the flap 30is folded in and the tongues 31 and 32 inserted, as heretoforedescribed, so that the tongues 31 have their inner or upper edgesabutting the undersides of the flanges 58 for interlocking the table topon the column 17.

The column or post 18 is formed from a blank 60, as seen in FIG. 10,which is folded in rectangular form, as seen in FIG. 2, to provide afront wall 61, a rear wall 62, side walls 63 and 64, and an end flap 65forming an extension of the rear wall 62. The flap 65 is turned inwardlyagainst the inner side of thewalls 63 and secured thereto by additionalstaples 51. The walls 61 and 62 have inturned top extensions formingcoplanar flaps 66 and 67, respectively. Wall 64 has tongues 68 and 69extending from its upper edge and corresponding to the tongues 54 and55, respectively, which are separated by notches 70, corresponding tothe notches 56. The wall 63 has upwardly projecting extensions formingtongues 71 and 72, corresponding to the tongues 54 and 57, and which areseparated by notches 73, corresponding to the notches 59. The tongues 72have outturned flanges 74, corresponding to the flanges 58.

The post or upright 18 is applied to the underside of the other end ofthe desk top 16 and with the tongues 68 and 69 engaging the intermediateslots 29 and 36. The flap 30 of said end is open in the manner asillustrated by the right hand flap 30 of FIG. 2, so that the tongues 72can engage between the walls 34,42 and 37,38 and against the other endsof the bottom portions 35, and with the tongues 71 engaging in the endslots 29. Said end flap 30 is then returned to its closed position sothat the tongues 31 thereof will abut against the flanges 74 forinterlocking the top 16 to the upright 18 in the same manner asheretofore described in reference to the upright 17. The tongues 32 willengage in the same slots 29 as the tongues 71. The flaps 52,53,66 and 67will abut the undersides of the bottom portions 26 between the slots 29.

The front wall 46 of the post 17 is slit along the lines 75 toprovidepanels 76 and 77. The panels 76 are folded inwardly along vertical foldlines 78, and the panel 77 is folded inwardly along a horizontal foldline 79 to provide an opening 80, FIG. 2, for receiving a sliding drawer81, FIG. 1.

A blank 82 (FIG. 9) is cut along diagonal lines 83 of its ends andfolded along the lines 84 to provide a top wall 85, depending side walls86, diagonally inwardly extending end wall portions 87 having outturnedtriangular flaps 88 which abut portions of the underside of the top wall85, and triangular end walls 89. The walls 86, 87 and 89 have coplanarbottom edges 90 which abut a surface on which the bottom edges of thepost or upright 17 rests when the insert 91, formed from the blank 82,is inserted upwardly into the hollow bottom of the upright 17. Theinsert 91 fits snugly in the bottom of the upright 17 and is of a heightso that the front portion of its top wall 85 will abut the panel portionor lip 77. The insert 91 thus provides a support for the drawer 81.

FIG. 11 illustrates another furniture item, designated generally 92,comprising a table or light weight desk composed of a top 93 and twouprights 18. The top 93 is formed primarily from a single blank, acentral portion 94 of which forms the top surface and which hasdownturned side edge portions 95 terminating in inturned bottom portions96, which correspond with the portions 26, including slots 97,corresponding to the slots 29. Inner wall portions 98 extend upwardlyfrom the inner edges of the bottom portions 96 and have outturnedflanges 99 which abut against portions of the underside of the topsurface 94 and which are preferably secured thereto by an adhesive bond100. As seen in FIG. 13, side edge portions of the top surface 94 andthe walls 95, 96 and 97 combine to form hollow portions of rectangularcross Section which extend from end-to-end of the table top and each ofwhich contains a liner 101 of angular cross section having a top portion102 bearing against the underside of the top surface 94 and an outerside portion 103 bearing against the inner side of the wall 95.

In lieu of the insert 20, the table top 93 has an insert 104 composed oftwo elongated strips 105 of angular cross section including a topportion 106 and a depending wall 107. The walls- 107 are disposed inabutting engagement with one another and the top portions 106 extendoutwardly therefrom. The insert 105 is of a width to fit between theflanges 99, as seen in FIGS. 12 and 13. The top portion 94 terminates atits ends in end walls 108, corresponding to the end walls 23, flaps 109corresponding to the flaps 30 and tongues 110 and 11, corresponding tothe tongues 31 and 32, respectively. The left hand upright 18, FIGS. 11and 12, is applied to the underside of the top 93, in the same manner asthe upright 18 is applied to the left hand end of the table top 16, asheretofore described. The notches 73 and 70 straddle the walls 107. Theother right hand upright 18 is turned through an arc of l80 so that itswall 63 constitutes the outer side wall thereof, and/is then applied tothe right hand end in the same manner as heretofore described inreference to the left hand upright 18.

It will also be apparent that either desk or table top 16 or 93 can beutilized with one upright 17 and one upright 18, two uprights 17 or twouprights 18.

All of the parts of the furniture items and 92, except the staples 51,are formed of inexpensive paper stock.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may beresorted to without departing from the function or scope of theinvention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A knockdown furniture item such as a desk or table comprising a tophaving hollow tubular portions of rectangular cross section, twosupporting uprights, each of said uprights being of hollow rectangularcross section including walls terminating in upwardly extending tongues,a bottom wall of said top having slots for receiving said tongues, meansfor interlocking certain of the tongues to the table top, at leastcertain of said slots being formed in bottom walls of said tubularportions, and an insert forming a part of said top and disposed beneaththe central portion of a top wall thereof and between and in closeengagement with certain of said tubular portions, said insert comprisingtwo of said tubular portions disposed in side by side abuttingengagement.

2. A furniture item as in claim 1, said slots being formed in the bottomwalls of all of said tubular portions.

3. A furniture item as in claim 1, at least one of said supportinguprights having a front wall provided with an opening, a drawer fittingslidably in said opening, and an insert fitting detachably in the openbottom of said upright for supporting the drawer therein.

4. A furniture item as in claim 1, said parts forming the top andsupporting uprights being formed of heavy paper stock.

5. A furniture item as in claim 4', and means rendering said paper stockfire resistant.

6. A furniture item as in claim 4, and a color coating on all exposedsurfaces of the furniture item.

7. A knockdown furniture item such as a desk or table comprising a topand two supporting uprights, each of said uprights being of hollowrectangular cross section including walls terminating in upwardlyextending tongues, the underside of said top having slots for receivingsaid tongues, means for interlocking certain of the tongues to the top,said top including hollow tubular portions of rectangular cross sectionformed in part by portions of a top wall thereof, inner walls of saidtubular portion terminating in outturned flanges secured to portions ofthe underside of said top wall, and an insert having coplanar topportions fitting tightly between said flanges and depending inner wallsdisposed in abutting engagement with one another.

8. A knockdown furniture item such as a desk or table comprising a tophaving hollow tubular portions of rectangular cross section, twosupporting uprights, each of said uprights being of hollow rectangularcross section including walls terminating in upwardly extending tongues,a bottom wall of said. top having slots for receiving said tongues,means for interlocking certain of the tongues to the table top, saidinterlocking means comprising outturned flanges formed on certain ofsaid tongues, and said top including end walls having bottom flangesforming extensions thereof provided with upturned tongues for engagingin said slots, and certain of said last mentioned tongues abuttingagainst said outturned flanges for interlocking the tongues thereof

1. A knockdown furniture item such as a desk or table comprising a tophaving hollow tubular portions of rectangular cross section, twosupporting uprights, each of said uprights being of hollow rectangularcross section including walls terminating in upwardly extending tongues,a bottom wall of said top having slots for receiving said tongues, meansfor interlocking certain of the tongues to the table top, at leastcertain of said slots being formed in bottom walls of said tubularportions, and an insert forming a part of said top and disposed beneaththe central portion of a top wall thereof and between and in closeengagement with certain of said tubular portions, said insert comprisingtwo of said tubular portions disposed in side by side abuttingengagement.
 2. A furniture item as in claim 1, said slots being formedin the bottom walls of all of said tubular portions.
 3. A furniture itemas in claim 1, at least one of said supporting uprights having a frontwall provided with an opening, a drawer fitting slidably in saidopening, and an insert fitting detachably in the open bottom of saidupright for supporting the drawer therein.
 4. A furniture item as inclaim 1, said parts forming the top and supporting uprights being formedof heavy paper stock.
 5. A furniture item as in claim 4, and meansrendering said paper stock fire resistant.
 6. A furniture item as inclaim 4, and a color coating on all exposed surfaces of the furnitureitem.
 7. A knockdown furniture item such as a desk or table comprising atop and two supporting uprights, each of said uprights being of hollowrectangular cross section including walls terminating in upwardlyextending tongues, the underside of said top having slots for receivingsaid tongues, means for interlocking certain of the tongues to the top,said top including hollow tubular portions of rectangular cross sectionformed in part by portions of a top wall thereof, inner walls of saidtubular portion terminating in outturned flanges secured to portions ofthe underside of said top wall, and an insert having coplanar topportions fitting tightly between said flanges and depending inner wallsdisposed in abutting engagement with one another.
 8. A knockdownfurniture item such as a desk or table comprising a top having hollowtubular portions of rectangular cross section, two supporting uprights,each of said uprights being of hollow rectangular cross sectionincluding walls terminating in upwardly extending tongues, a bottom wallof said top having slots for receiving said tongues, means forinterlocking certain of the tongues to the table top, said interlockingmeans comprising outturned flanges formed on certain of said tongues,and said top including end walls having bottom flanges formingextensions thereof provided with upturned tongues for engaging in saidslots, and certain of said last mentioned tongues abutting against saidoutturned flanges for interlocking the tongues thereof to the top.